Many blues aficionados listen to Muddy Waters' classic Chicago blues sides of the '50s and '60s not only for his expressive vocals and searing slide guitar, but for pianist Otis Spann, who was almost without question the greatest pianist in the Chicago blues style. It was only his early death in 1970 at the age of 40 (when he was finally beginning to start his career as a bandleader in earnest) that kept Spann from becoming one of the best-known names in all of jazz. Equally at ease with tricky, jazz-inspired solos and two-fisted comping, Spann is a marvel to listen to, and although the emphasis of this live set is most often on Muddy Waters' vocals and guitar, Spann's barrelhouse rolls and inspired solos on blues classics like "Baby Please Don't Go," "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man," and "I Feel Like Going Home" more than justify his co-billing.

A long time friend sent me this...it is 50 years old now. Hard to believethat. Thanks Cheech (you wish you were only 50).

"When Muddy Waters took the stage at the Checkerboard
Lounge in Chicago on November 22, 1981 to play a session with members
of the Rolling Stones and fellow bluesmen Buddy Guy, Junior Wells and
Lefty Dizz, no one expected it to become one of his last live concert
appearances. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood and 'fifth Stone'
Ian Stewart, staying in Chicago for three concerts on November 23, 24,
and 25, were excited to meet their long-time idol, perhaps the greatest
bluesman ever and, of course, one of the major influences which led to
the formation of the Rolling Stones back in 1962. They even took their
band name from one of Waters' songs, 'Rolling Stone.' The meeting took
place in an atmosphere of great anticipation, friendship and respect.
Hear Jagger, during 'Hoochie Coochie Man,' sing the line '...I was born
with good luck' and Waters' humorous response to superstar Mick: '...I
see that!' ...irresistable! 'Time waits for no one' sang the Rolling
Stones, whome he had given a part of his unforgettable way of playing
the blues. Further proof may be given by three Rolling Stones bonus
tracks included in this collection: 'I Want to Be Loved' (unreleased
studio outtake, IBC Studios, London, March 11, 1963), 'I Can't Be
Satisfied' (BBC Radio performance on "Top Gear", July 23, 1964) and 'I
Just Wanna Make Love to You' (live recording, Madrid/Spain, June 17,
1990). We would like to dedicate this record to Muddy 'Mississippi'
Waters. It was one of his last but definitely not least appearances on
stage."*
(*) album linear notes

A great record of a great meeting. It is need
necessary to remind that the name of the band "Rolling Stones" was
inspired by the name of a MUddy Watters' song called "Rolling Stones".
This name was used for the first time in the London Marquee Club show
(July, 22, 1962) and one of the firsts Rolling Stones' single was a
Muddy Waters cover called "Want to be loved".

Disc 2
1. Baby Please Don't Go
2. Hoochie Coochie Man
3. Long Distance Call
4. Mannish Boy
5. Champagne and Reefer
6. Next Time You See Me
7. Talking About My Woman
8. I Want to Be Loved
9. I Can't Be Satisfied
10. I Just Want to Make Love to You

CD21.My Eyes (Keep Me in Trouble)2.Mannish Boy3.Sugar Sweet4.Trouble No More5.Forty Days and Forty Nights6.Just to Be with You7.Don't Go No Farther8.Diamonds at Your Feet9.I Love the Life I Live (I Live the Life I Love)10.Got My Mojo Working11.Rock Me12.Look What You've Done13.She's Nineteen Years Old14.Close to You15.Walking Thru the Park16.Take the Bitter with the Sweet17.I Feel So Good18.You Shook Me19.My Home Is in the Delta20.Good Morning Little School Girl21.The The Same Thing22.You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had23.All Aboard (Fathers and Sons)24.Can't Get No Grinding

THE CHESS BOX covers Muddy Waters' career from 1947 through 1972. It
features some previously-unreleased tracks, and many others previously
unreleased in the U.S. To call these recordings indispensable is merely
to state the obvious. Any one of the following would place these
records among the most important in blues history--Waters' deft slide
guitar playing and intense vocals; stellar instrumental support from
the legendary Little Walter; Otis Spann, James Cotton, and Buddy Guy,
to name but a few of the blues greats who first worked with Waters; and
a repertoire of classics that includes "Hoochie Coochie Man," "Rolling
Stone," and "I Just Want to Make Love to You." The length and cost of
this set may intimidate some (the single-disc HIS BEST is a less
overwhelming alternative), but true blues lovers should consider
investing in THE CHESS BOX, the best career overview of this undisputed
giant of the blues.

Disc 2:
1. I Just Want To Make Love To You
2. I'm Ready
3. Smokestack Lightnin'
4. Young Fashioned Ways
5. Mannish Boy
6. Trouble No More
7. Forty Days And Forty Nights
8. Just To Be With You
9. Don't Go No Farther
10. Diamonds At Your Feet
11. I Love The Life I Live, I Live The Life I Love
12. Rock Me
13. Look What You Done
14. Got My Mojo Working
15. Good News
16. Evil
17. She's Nineteen Years Old
18. Close To You
19. Walkin' Thru The Park
20. Blues Before Sunrise (With False Starts, Dialogue)
21. Lonseome Road Blues
22. Take The Bitter With The Sweet (Dialogue, False Start, Alt. Take)
23. She's Into Something
24. Southbound Train
25. Double Trouble

Disc 3:
1. I Feel So Good (Live)
2. You Shook Me
3. You Need Love
4. Twenty Four Hours
5. Elevate Me Mama (Alt. Take)
6. So Glad I'm Living
7. My Love Strikes Like Lightning
8. You Don't Have To Go (Alt. Take)
9. Things That I Used To Do
10. My Home Is In The Delta
11. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
12. The Same Thing
13. You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had
14. Short Dress Woman
15. Making Friends
16. Black Night (Hornless Alt. Mix)
17. Bird Nest On The Ground
18. Country Boy (Live)
19. Sugar Sweet (Alt. 'Fathers And Sons' Take)
20. All Aboard (Alt. 'Fathers And Sons' Take)
21. Going Down Slow (Live)
22. Who's Gonna Be Your Sweet Man When I'm Gone (Original Hornless London Mix)
23. Can't Get No Grindin' (What's The Matter With The Meal)